AI companies are getting richer, but the security guard at the entrance has only received a 25-cent raise in hourly pay over 4 years

Watchful AI News Flash: Security personnel providing services to office buildings of companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and Salesforce have voted to go on strike if necessary.

They are mainly employed by third-party security companies like Allied Universal and Securitas. The strike has not been formally announced yet, and whether it will actually take place and when it will start depends on the upcoming labor negotiations.

The labor and management have been in talks for several months. The SEIU-USWW Union is demanding a minimum hourly wage increase to $30, along with enhanced family health care, retirement benefits, and job security. The Union stated that the management proposed a total hourly wage increase of only 25 cents over the next 4 years, with no increase for 3 years. The Union currently represents around 14,000 security personnel in the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles County.

This negotiation has already impacted AI company offices. Anthropic closed its San Francisco office last week and asked employees to work from home after receiving a strike alert from Allied Universal. At that time, union members had not yet voted to strike, but that step has now been taken.

In recent years, both OpenAI and Anthropic have faced security threats against their employees, leading tech companies to continuously enhance physical security.